Useful Document - Learnerships

Learnerships
The Department of Labour brought in new laws to develop the skills of
the citizens of our country. These are the Skills Development Act, 1998
and Skills Development Levies Act, 1999. Employers are for example
obliged to contribute money in the form of a skills levy, to ensure funding
is available for skills development.
New learning programmes were also developed. One of the new
learning programmes that were established, is called a learnership. This
is a learning programme that you can seriously consider, since it can
provide you with a qualification and many other benefits, such as a
learning allowance and working experience. Let us look at learnerships
in more detail.
What is a learnership?
A learnership is a work-based learning programme that leads to a
nationally recognised qualification. Thus, learners in learnerships have to
attend classes at a college or training centre to complete
classroom-based learning, and they also have to complete on-the-job
training in a workplace. This means that unemployed people can only
participate in a learnership, if there is an employer that is willing to
provide the required work experience.
You can do a learnership not only in the traditional trade areas, but also
in other learning fields, such as tourism and security services.
Learnerships combine a structured learning programme with practical
work experience at a company, government department or small
business.
Training in classes/college/training centre+on-the-job training
at employer=learnership
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How long does it take to complete a
learnership?
It usually takes a year, but some learnerships can take two or more
years. It is possible for learners to complete a learnership in a shorter
time through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This is a process through
which learners will get recognition for parts of the programme for
learning done previously or for work experience.
You will receive a nationally recognised qualification upon successful
completion of the learnership.
What are the benefits of a learnership?
You will receive a nationally recognised qualification upon successful
completion of the learnership. You will gain work experience, that will
improve your chances of getting work. The work experience gained
during the learnership can assist you to set up your own small business.
You gain links with the employment network, increasing your chances to
find work. You can earn a promotion, or be redeployed into another
more satisfying job.
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What are the entry requirements?
Some learnerships do not require any entry requirements, but others
require a Grade 12 certificate. Some learnerships have entry
requirements that relate to the field of study - for example, you need to
have completed some training in finances to enter a learnership in
financial management.
What will the training cost?
You do not have to pay anything to do the learnership.
How much will a learner earn?
All learners must be paid a learner allowance by the employer. An
employer must pay a learner a set allowance calculated in terms of
clause 3 of Sectoral Determination No 5: Learnerships. No learner may
A list of all the available learnerships are available on the Department
of Labour’s website at www.labour.gov.za.
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be paid less than the allowance as determined. The precise amount of
the allowance depends on the type of learnership and the level of the
qualification.
What is required from learners in a
learnership?
You need to sign both a Learnership Agreement and employment
contract, thus two legal documents. The Learnership Agreement is
signed by yourself, the employer and training provider and sets out the
responsibilities of all three parties. The employment contract is signed
between yourself and the employer and is only valid during the time of
the learnership.
What learnerships are available?
A list of all the available learnerships are available on the Department of
Labour’s website at www.labour.gov.za. Go to useful documents and
then choose “Registered learnerships by Sector Education and Training
Authorities (SETAs).” SETAs are the organisations that arrange learning in
specific areas of the economy of our country, for example construction,
transport, etc. You could also contact your nearest Labour Centre for
information. Ask a career counsellor to assist you to choose a
learnership best suited to you. There are 39 pages of learnerships and
each SETA has developed a number of learnerships!
How can you apply?
One of the conditions for a learnership is that unemployed people must
be employed by the employer for the duration of the learnership.
Unemployed people can thus only enter a learnership if there is an
employer who is willing to take unemployed people into a learnership
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programme.
Unemployed people can apply for a learnership if there is an employer
calling for applications of unemployed people. Employers advertise in
newspapers, or place adverts in the community, city, town or
community. People entering a learnership should at least be 16 years
old and younger than 35 years.
If you are an unemployed person, you can also register on the
Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA), the computerised
job-matching system of the Department by visiting a Labour Centre.
Keep your contact details up to date and the Labour Centre will
contact you as soon as positions become available. If you meet the
criteria, you will be called for a briefing session and possibly an aptitude
test to ensure you will be really happy in your learnership. Think about
which area you want to do the learnership in, such as catering, fixing
computers, or whatever your interest.
Contact details
Provincial Offices of the Department of Labour
Tel: (043) 701 3000
Limpopo
Polokwane
Tel: (015) 290 1744
Tel: (051) 505 6200
Mpumalanga
Witbank
Tel: (013) 655 8700
Tel: (012) 309 5000
North West
Mmabatho
Tel: (018) 387 8100
Gauteng South
Johannesburg Tel: (011) 853 0300
Northern Cape
Kimberley
Tel: (053) 838 1500
KwaZulu-Natal
Durban
Western Cape
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 441 8000
Eastern Cape
East London
Free State
Bloemfontein
Gauteng North
Pretoria
Tel: (031) 366 2000
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Labour Centres of the Department of Labour
Carletonville
Germiston
Johannesburg
Kempton Park
Nigel
Randburg
Roodepoort
Sandton
Sebokeng
Soweto
Springs
Vanderbijlpark
Vereeniging
Eastern Cape
Aliwal North
Butterworth
Cradock
East London
Fort Beaufort
Graaf-Reinet
Grahamstown
King William’s
Town
Lusikisiki
Maclear
Mdantsane
Mount Ayliff
Mthatha
Port Elizabeth
Queenstown
Uitenhage
Tel: (051) 633 2633
Tel: (047) 491 0656
Tel: (048) 881 3010
Tel: (043) 702 7500
Tel: (046) 645 4686
Tel: (049) 892 2142
Tel: (046) 622 2104
Tel: (043) 643 4756
Tel: (039) 253 1996
Tel: (045) 932 1424
Tel: (043) 761 3151
Tel: (039) 254 0282
Tel: (047) 501 5600
Tel: (041) 582 4472
Tel: (045) 807 5400
Tel: (041) 992 4627
KwaZulu-Natal
Dundee
Durban
Estcourt
Kokstad
Ladysmith
Newcastle
Pietermaritzburg
Pinetown
Port Shepstone
Prospecton
Richards Bay
Richmond
Stanger
Ulundi
Verulam
Vryheid
Free State
Bethlehem
Bloemfontein
Botshabelo
Ficksburg
Harrismith
Kroonstad
Petrusburg
Phuthaditjhaba
Sasolburg
Welkom
Zastron
Tel: (018) 788 3281
Tel: (011) 345 6300
Tel: (011) 223 1000
Tel: (011) 975 9301
Tel: (011) 814 7095
Tel: (011) 781 8144
Tel: (011) 766 2000
Tel: (011) 444 7631
Tel: (016) 592 3825
Tel: (011) 939 1200
Tel: (011) 365 3700
Tel: (016) 981 0280
Tel: (016) 430 0000
Tel: (058) 303 5293
Tel: (051) 505 6201
Tel: (051) 534 3789
Tel: (051) 933 2299
Tel: (058) 623 2977
Tel: (056) 215 1812
Tel: (053) 574 0932
Tel: (058) 713 0373
Tel: (016) 970 3200
Tel: (057) 391 0200
Tel: (051) 673 1471
Tel: (034) 212 3147
Tel: (031) 336 1500
Tel: (036) 352 2161
Tel: (039) 727 2140
Tel: (036) 638 1900
Tel: (034) 312 6038
Tel: (033) 341 5300
Tel: (031) 701 7740
Tel: (039) 682 2406
Tel: (031) 913 9700
Tel: (035) 780 8700
Tel: (033) 212 2768
Tel: (032) 551 4291
Tel: (035) 879 1439
Tel: (032) 541 5600
Tel: (034) 980 8992
Limpopo
Gauteng North
Atteridgeville
Bronkhorstspruit
Garankuwa
Krugersdorp
Mamelodi
Pretoria
Randfontein
Soshanguve
Temba
Giyani
Jane Furse
Lebowakgomo
Lephalale
Makhado
Modimolle
Mokopani
Phalaborwa
Polokwane
Seshego
Thohoyandou
Tzaneen
Tel: (012) 373 4435
Tel: (013) 932 0197
Tel: (012) 702 4525
Tel: (011) 955 4420
Tel: (012) 812 9500
Tel: (012) 309 5050
Tel: (011) 693 3618
Tel: (012) 799 7400
Tel: (071) 871 6509
Gauteng South
Alberton
Benoni
Boksburg
Brakpan
Tel:
Tel:
Tel:
Tel:
Tel: (015) 812 9041
Tel: (013) 265 7210
Tel: (015) 633 9360
Tel: (014) 763 2162
Tel: (015) 516 0207
Tel: (014) 717 1046
Tel: (015) 491 5973
Tel: (015) 781 5114
Tel: (015) 299 5000
Tel: (015) 223 7020
Tel: (015) 960 1300
Tel: (015) 306 2600
Mpumalanga
(011) 861 6130
(011) 747 9601
(011) 898 3340
(011) 744 9000
Baberton
Bethal
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Tel: (013) 712 3066
Tel: (017) 647 5212
Carolina
Eerstehoek
eMalahleni
/ Witbank
Ermelo
Groblersdal
Kwamhlanga
KaMhlushwa
Lydenburg
Middelburg
Nelspruit
Piet Retief
Sabie
Secunda
Standerton
Volksrust
Tel: (017) 843 1077
Tel: (017) 883 2414
Tel: (013) 653 3800
Tel: (017) 819 7632
Tel: (013) 262 3150
Tel: (013) 947 3173
Tel: (013) 785 0010
Tel: (013) 235 2368
Tel: (013) 283 3600
Tel: (013) 753 2844
Tel: (017) 826 1883
Tel: (013) 764 2105
Tel: (017) 631 2594
Tel: (017) 712 1351
Tel: (017) 735 2994
Northern Cape
Calvinia
De Aar
Kimberley
Kuruman
Postmasburg
Springbok
Upington
Tel: (027) 341 1280
Tel: (053) 631 0952
Tel: (053) 838 1500
Tel: (053) 712 3952
Tel: (053) 313 0641
Tel: (027) 718 1058
Tel: (054) 331 1752
North West
Brits
Christiana
Klerksdorp
Lichtenburg
Mafikeng
Mogwase
Potchefstroom
Rustenburg
Taung
Vryburg
Tel: (012) 252 3068
Tel: (053) 441 2120
Tel: (018) 464 8700
Tel: (018) 632 4323
Tel: (018) 381 1010
Tel: (014) 555 5693
Tel: (018) 297 5100
Tel: (014) 592 8214
Tel: (053) 994 1710
Tel: (053) 927 5221
Western Cape
Beaufort West
Bellville
Cape Town
George
Knysna
Mitchell’s Plain
Mossel Bay
Oudtshoorn
Paarl
Somerset West
Vredenburg
Worcester
Tel: (023) 414 3427
Tel: (021) 941 7000
Tel: (021) 468 5500
Tel: (044) 801 1201
Tel: (044) 382 3150
Tel: (021) 391 0591
Tel: (044) 691 1140
Tel: (044) 272 4370
Tel: (021) 872 2020
Tel: (021) 852 2535
Tel: (022) 715 1627
Tel: (023) 347 0152
Layout and design by the Design Studio (Jani de Wet), Chief Directorate of Communication,
Department of Labour. Website: www.labour.gov.za